PAULET ISLAND Located in the northwestern Weddell Sea, Paulet Island is home to a large Adélie penguin rookery. With a volcanic cone that rises 1,158 feet (353 meters), the island reminds us that this was once a very active landscape. In addition to penguins, you may also view the remains of a historic hut built by members of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901- 04. A cross marks the burial site of Ole Wennersgaard, a member of the crew. SEYMOUR ISLAND Also known by its Argentine name, Marimbio, the island is significant for fossil finds, ventifacts (ancient rocks polished smooth over time by wind and grains of sand) and for the remains of the KT Boundary, which marks the transition between the Cretaceous Period (dinosaurs and reptiles) and the Tertiary Period (mammals) of geological times. This era is known for the mass extinction of many forms of life, including dinosaurs.
TAY HEAD Tay Head is a dramatic headland on the northeastern tip of Joinville Island. It’s hard to miss the rocky headland jutting out of the rugged, icy landscape—and that’s precisely why Tay Head has long been an important landmark for navigation and exploration. Against this backdrop you can observe wildlife species such as Adélie and Weddell penguins, fur seals and giant petrels.. VEGA ISLAND Vega Island, part of the James Ross island Group, is located off the eastern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula in the Weddell Sea. The island, which stretches 27 km long and 14 km wide, has a mostly rocky and icy terrain with several cliffs and ice-laden peaks. Vega Island and the surrounding waters are home to penguins, seals, seabirds and other wildlife. The summit on Vega island offers excellent
views of the Adélie penguin colony and of the Weddell Sea. Grounded bergs are often spotted in the shallow waters at low tide.
WEDDELL SEA While the Weddell Sea is home to
plenty of whales (killer, humpback and minke), as well as leopard, crabeater and Weddell seals, it’s especially known for its concentration of icebergs. It’s possible to see dome-shaped, wedge-shaped, tilted and blocky icebergs, but it’s the rectangular-shaped tabular icebergs that stand out because of their plateau-like flat top and steep sides. Some are as big as football fields.
EXPEDITION SPIRIT Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your Expedition Team must consider the sea, the ice and the weather to guide the route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you may experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed. By the same token, wildlife encounters as described are expected, but not guaranteed. Your Expedition Team will use their considerable experience to seek out wildlife in known habitats, but the presence of any particular species of bird or marine wildlife is not guaranteed.
Call your Travel Professional or a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 1.888.892.0073 | Visit QuarkExpeditions.com for additional details
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